PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. — A man who was hired to uphold the law is now facing charges after being accused of breaking it.
According to the Paulding County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested Detective Steve Edwin Sorrells on Monday for two counts of child molestation and violation of oath of office.
Deputies said on Nov. 14, someone contacted them alleging the 48-year-old had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor.
Authorities contacted the GBI and asked them to launch an investigation. Sorrells was then placed on paid administrative leave and removed from all of his official duties as a detective, the sheriff's office said.
On Monday morning, deputies said he came to the sheriff's office to speak with agents about the allegations. As a result of the meeting, Sorrells was taken into custody.
The sheriff's office said they terminated Sorrells terminate as soon as he was arrested.
"I am disgusted that one of our own has been arrested and charged with child molestation," Sheriff Gary Gulledge said in a news release. "This type of behavior will not be condoned in our office nor in any law enforcement agency in the county. Our focus is on the victims in this case; we want to make sure they get the justice and compassion they deserve.”
“This incident has tarnished the badge that we all wear so proudly. We will do everything in our power to assist the GBI during this investigation," the sheriff added.
Sorrells had been employed with the sheriff's office since July of 2014. Before he was fired, he was a detective in the Juvenile Investigations Division.
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